Oil gas generating process



May 31, 1938. w. B. HARRIS 2,119,432

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OIL GAS GENERATING PROCESS Filed July 22, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR. WAL TER BHAR'R/ 79 BY )01M A TTORNEY May 31, 1938. w. B. HARRIS OIL GAS GENERATING PROCESS 8 She'ets-Sheet 5 Filed July 22, 1935 WAL TER B-HARR/.S

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY May 31, 1938. w. B. HARRIS 2,119,432

OIL GAS GENERATING PROCESS Filed July 22, 1935 B Sheets-Sheet 6 foo WAL TER B-HAR/.S

INVENToR.

BWM

ATTORNEY May 3l, 1938. w. a. HARRIS 2,119,432

l OIL GAS GENERATING PROCESS Filed July 22, '1935 I 8 sheets-sheet '7 3 Z J'femr/ i lf3 /fa ff 5 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY WALTER @HARR/.s y

May 31, 1938. w. B. HARRIS I OIL GAS GENERATING PROCESS Filed July 22, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Ill m M w B @i R n M, mi W ai. E E u 2 mv h/E INVENTOR BW Mm ATTORNEY latente'd May 31, 1938 2.119.432 oiLGAs GENEnATnvG PROCESS Walter B. Harris, Baysiyde, Long Island City,

Application July 22, 1935, Serial No. 32,524

This invention relates to an oil gas generating process comprising the steps of first raising steam to a temperature at which substantially all of it will react when brought into the presence of hydrocarbon, then bringing said steam into direct Contact with hydrocarbon oil and then causing reaction under high heat influence, the said steps taking place continuously.

This application is a continuation in part of my application for patent for Oil gas generator, Serial No. 742,322, iiled August 31, 1934.

I have disclosed herewith a means for raising by vacuum a regulated quantity of oil from a fixed level below an injector nozzle and causing the kinetic energy of steam passing through the nozzle at said reaction temperature to inject the oil into a gasifying chamber within an oil gas generator. This oil injecting means` eliminates the use of pressure oil pumps having moving parts or of gravity oil feed. I have found in practice that this vacuum method of feeding the oil provides a safety feature in the operation of the gas plant in that no oil can be raised from the lower level and admitted into the gas generating chamber unless the superheated steam is present and under a'predetermined pressure. I use this method of feeding the' oil into the oil gas generator herewith disclosed and utilize the kinetic energy of steam superheated to said reaction temperature to inject the oil.

I have disclosed herewith an oil gas generator having a regulated water level boiler with a steam chamber and having superheating tubes leading to the injecting means, which will -be later fully described. This arrangement serves to superheat the steam and to vcreate high velocity and kinetic energy in the injecting means before contacting with the hydrocarbon oil. I have found in practice that the best results are obtained by raising the temperature of the steam to a high temperature at which substantially all of it will instantly react when brought into the presence of hydrocarbon before contacting with the oil.

The herein disclosed gas maldng unit for carrying out my process consists of an outer tubular casing having one end closed and having a gas outlet elbow mounted at its other end and a flow-directing plate on top of the elbow. Suspended within the casing from the now-directing plate are U-shaped superheating tubes and a centrally mounted gas generating chamber. The said unit also comprises an injecting device in which the superheated steam functions to raise oil from a lowlevel and' feed the oil into the said gas generating chamber.

Heat from a furnace is used to produce saturated steam in a constant water level boiler having a steam chamber. From the steam chamg5 ber saturated steam under pressure passes through the U-shaped superheating tubes. 'I'he said tubes are arranged in series through interconnecting passages in the now-directing plate. From the U-shaped tubes the superheated steam passes through the injecting device. The superheated steam and the oil are admitted into the heated gas generating chamber as a continuous fog-like mixture by means of the injecting device. The injector nozzle is so constructed that the mixture issuing therefrom will spread in conical form throughout the cylindrical gas generating chamber, the said oil injecting taking place only when and while the temperature in the superheating tubes is high enough to superheat 20 the steam to a temperature at which all of. it will react when brought into the presence of hydrocarbon.

An object of this invention is to supply the correct proportion of oil to a definite quantity of the superheated steam.

Another object of this invention is to cause the kinetic energy of the superheated steam tof'lift the required quantity of hydrocarbon oil from aA fixed level below an injector .nozzle into a gas generatingchamber within an oil gas making unit.

Another object of this invention is to cause a mixed spray of oil and the superheated steamv to be introduced into av heated generating cham.- ber and cause reaction between them.

Another object of this invention resides in a self-draining and non-carbonizing injecting device which prevents any oil from remaining and carbonizing in the injecting mechanism when the plant is shut down.

Another object of this invention is to cause the superheated steam and the hydrocarbon oil to meet inside the injector nozzle immediately adjacent to the point of entrance into a reaction zone.

Another object of this invention resides in automatic means for purging the gas generating plant for a definite timev before and after gas making.

With the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view, the preferred form of apparatus for carrying out my process will be shown in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims which form part of this speciilcation'.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional vie through the oil gas generating unit. v Figure 2 is a top view of the oil gas generating unit shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, th section being taken as on Aline 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view, the section being taken as on line 4-4 in Figure l.

Figure 5. is an enlarged sectional view of the.

injector in the position shown in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an enlarged. sectional view of the injector, the section being-taken ason line 8-8 in Figure 3. r

Figure '1 is a sectional view, taken as on iine Figure 9 is a side elevation of the oil gas gen-v erator and scrubber. Figure 10 is a rear elevation of a 3-unit oil gas generator, partly broken away and showing a dutch oven.

Figure 11 is a plan view of a three-unit oil gas generator, including means for automatic control. f

Figure 12 is a sectional elevation of va. gas generating unit in a furnace and connected to separate superheating units suspended in said furnace.

. In the illustrated embodiment of the inven tion, best shown in Figure 1, reference char- -acter I8 indicates an oil gas generating unit comprising a tubular gas .generating chamber II which is open at its lower end and which is fastened at its upper end to a flow-directing plate I2. The flow-directing plate I2 rests upon the upper end of a gas outlet elbow I3. 'I'he elbow ills provided with a flange I4 through which pass bolts I5, whereby the elbow is secured to'a cover I5 of aV furnace I1, best shown in Figure 8.

A tubular casing 23 having a closed lower end and a beveled collar 24 at its upper end 'is mounted in a beveled seat in the cover I8 in such a manner that it may be removed with facility for repairs. A gasket 25 has been interposed between the elbow I3 and the collar 24 of the casing 23. A gasket 28 has been interposed between the `flow-directing plate I2 and the elbow I3. A U-shaped tube 21 has been secured in threaded engagement in the flow-directing plate i2 by meansv of pipe fittings 28. The U'shaped tube 21 connects at one end to a pipe 29 bymeans of a passage 38 and a threaded hole 3i in the flowdirecting plate I2. .The pipe 29 is connected to a saturated steam boiler 32, best shown in Figure 8. The U-shaped tube 21 has been connected at its outlet end 33 with an aperture 34 communicating with an angular passage '35, shown in Figure 2. As best shown in Figure 3, a U-shaped tube 38 similar to the tube 21, has been secured in threaded engagement in the flow-directing plate I2 by means of pipe fittings 31 and connects at one end by means xoi? an aperture 38 with the passage 35. Thetu'be 38 connects at the outlet end with an aperture 39 which communicates 'with a generally vertical passage 48 in the body 4i of an injector 48. It will thus be'seen that the plate I2 comprises an angular passage 35 for reversing the upward flow of steam in the U-shaped tube 21, into a downward flow into the U-shaped. tube and is termed a flow-directing plate. The injector body 4I comprises a lower extension 42 extend--v ing into an opening 9 in the now-directing plate I2 and having a nozzle 43 in threaded engagement. A cover 44 made of high heat resisting material is positioned below the nozzle 43 and seats on top oi' the gas generating chamber II and serves to insulate and protect the nozzle from the intense vheat in the gas generating chamber. The high heat resisting material also serves to prevent the heat in gas generating chamber from heating the oil in the injector body to the point of cracking before reaching the gas generating chamber. The cover 44 is provided with an aperture 45 forming an inlet for the gas making elements into -the gas generating cham- .,ber. The passage 40 terminates at its upper end in an aperture 41 in communication with an annular passage 48 around a perforated member 49, best shown in Figure 5.

The perforated member 49 has radial apertures 5Ii communicating with an annular passage 5I inside the perforated member. 'I'he passage 5I communicates with radial apertures 52 and with a vertical passage 54 in a spindle 53. The passage 54 in its downward direction terminates in an outlet 55 in the nozzle 43. The passage 54 extends upwardly from the apertures 52 to a threaded plug 58 which can be removed i'or cleaning and blowing out the passage 54, the outlet 55 andthe aperture 45 in the cover 44. Steam from the boiler 32 thus passes through the U-shaped tubes 21 and 38 and the injector 48 into the gas generating chamber II. A threaded gland 51 and packing 58 serve to prevent leakage of steam from the injector body 4I. The spindle 53 is in threaded engagement in the body 4I by means of a' threaded lower portion 59. It is thus possible to manipulate a handwheel 88 and cause the spindle 53 to move in or vout of seating contact in a tapering seat 8i in the nozzle 43 and thus regulate the quantity oi' oil flowing continuously into the gas generating chamber II., A hand 82 on the handwheel 88 serves for indicating the adjustment of the spindle 53 in relation to its seat and thus regulating the quantity of oil flowing through the outlet 55.

As best shown in Figure 7, the lower end of the spindle 53 has been formed with a plurality of grooves 83 on its outer periphery and extending from the tapering seat 8i, shown in Figure 5, upwards to an inlet passage 84 in the body 4I and communicating with an oil pipe 85. As shown in Figure l, the oil pipe 85 is connected to the lower end of a sight-feed device 88. An oil pipe 81 is connected at its upper end to a pipe communieating with the upper end of the sight-feed device 88. A predetermined low oil level 88 below the inlet 84 is constantly maintained in the oil pipe 81 by being connected to a Ifloat controlled oil level regulator 89, best shown in Figure 8.

The oil level regulator 89 comprises a liquid container 18 in which is a float operated valve 1I. 'I'he valve 1I serves to control the flow of oil from a storage tank supply pipe 12, thereby maintaining a fixed oil level 88 in the container 18'. Oil from the regulator 89 passes through a pipe 13 and through a solenoid controlled oil valve 14 and connects by means of a pipe 15 to the vertical oil pipe 81. When the solenoid controlled oil valve 14 is open, the normal level of the oil in the pipe 81 is the same as that maintained bythe float 18 in the oil level regulator 89. The oil in the pipe 81 cannot rise above the normal level 88, until a vacuum is produced in solenoid valve 14 is opened to permit oil to pass' from the oil level regulator 88 to the pipe 81.

As best shown in Figure 8, the vertical furnace I1 is lined with fire-resisting material I8 and is provided at its lower end with a horizontal rightangular extension or dutch oven i8 into which a gas burner 20 throws a flame. A checkered baille wall 11 constructed o f re bricks 18, spaced apart to form openings 18, is positioned intermediate the dutch oven I8 and the furnace |1. Combustion takes place in the dutch oven where the flame is retained by the bame wall 11. The hot products of combustion pass through the openings 19 in the bafiie wall 11 and upward through the vertical furnace |l and exit flue 2|, thence through an angular ilue passage 80. through the boiler 32 to a stack 22. The radiant. heat from the furnace bricks I8 acts against the tubular casing 23 and heat transfer takes place,

causing the steam passing through the tubes 21 and 88 in the casing 23 to be highly superheated.

The cover I8 of the furnace |1 is mounted on a top angle 8| secured to the furnace. A name plate 82 has been positioned intermediate the cover i8 and the angle 8| and serves to support heat resisting lining material 88 inside the cover. The boiler 8,2 is mounted on top of the cover i8 with the angular flue passage 80 in alignment with the flue passage 2| thus making a continuous draft passage from the furnace I1 to the stack 22.

'I'he walls of the angular passage 80 through the boiler 32, provide heating surfaces through which heat transfer takes place from the waste flue gases to the water 84 in the boiler. 'I'he water 84 is maintained at a constant level 85 by means of a oat-controlled water level regulator 8B best shown in Figure 9. The space above the water level in the boiler forms a saturated steam space 81. A U-shaped water tube 88 may be suspended in the furnace from the boiler into the passage 80 and communicate with the water space at the bottom of the boiler and with the steam space 81 at the top of the boiler and may serve to augment the evaporating capacity Aof the boiler. A steam outlet pipe 90 leads from the boiler and is connected to a steam header 9|, best shown in Figure 11. Saturated steam from the header 9| passes through the pipe 28 to the ow-directing plate I2.

Water is supplied to the boiler 32 from a water pipe |24. The water passes through a pipe 94 to the water level regulator 86 and through a pipe 95 to the water space at the bottom of the boiler. An equalizing pipe 96 attached to the top of the boiler returns to the water level regulator 8,6. As best shown in Figure 4, the gases generated in the gas generating chamber are forced from the chamber, and pass into an annular space |01 formed by centering arms |08 on the open end portion of the member From the annular space |01 the gases pass upward between lthe tubular member I| and the tubular casing 23 into the elbow I3. From the elbow I3, the gases pass through a nipple 91, through a back-pressure or non-return valve 98, through an arch pipe 99 and enter the top of a gas scrubber and are conveyed into a water seal |0| at the bottom of the scrubber by an internal pipe |02. The gases pass upwards from the water seal through a perforated supporting plate |03, through cleaning medium |04, meeting wash water spray |80 which enters the scrubber through a spray ring |08. The gases leave the scrubber through an outlet pipe |88.

It is to be noted that the embodiment heretofore described relates to a single unit oil gas generator I0, shown in Figures'l to 9, inclusive. Y

Figures 10 and ll show a 3-unit oil gas generator ||3 built up of three identical units Il to increase the gas making capacity. It is also to be noted that each unit I0 is an individual oil gas making plant which makes oil gas independently of any of the other units I8, and that one, two or all three of the units I8 may be operated at any time to meet a variable demand for gas. 'Ihe oil supply pipe 61 for each unit I0 is in com'- munication with an oil supply pipe 18 common to all units I0. The hand wheel 80 on any unit, may be operated to close the spindle 03 on the seat 8| and thus shut on the oil supply and stop gas making in any particular unit, as best shown in Fig. 5.

It is to be noted that the steam passage 54' at the center of the spindle 53, best shown in Figure 5, is of small circumference and there is formed a small -and conned heating surface at the center of the spindle. The oil passage 64 is positioned on the outside of the spindle 53 and lthere is formed a relatively large cooling surface around the outside of the spindle and thus the intense heat in the steam cannot crack the oil and cause carbon deposit during the short period that the oil is in contact with the heated spindle.

The operation of each oil gas generating unit I0 or of any number of the units |0in the 3- unit oil gas generating plant Il3 is as follows:

The 3-unit oil gas generating plant ||3 comprises a gas storage tank ||4 wherein the gas is under pressure. When the pressure in the storage tank drops to a predetermined low point, a bellows ||9 contracts and causes a pressure' switch I0 mounted thereon to turn on the electric current from the main supply ||8. The current opens a solenoid co'ntrolled gas supply valve I supplying gas to the gas burner 20, and opens the solenoid controlled water supply valve 82 supplying water to the gas scrubber |00. The water level regulator 8B is under constant pressure and is supplied from any suitable source through a pipe |24. From the water level regulator 88, the water is fed and maintained at a regulated level 85 in the boiler 32 (Fig. 9). The

. electric current also sets a control pyrometer I into operation. The gas in the burner 20 is immediately ignited by a gas pilot or by electric ignition (not shown) and the temperature in the furnace I1 commences to rise and the water in the boiler 82 is evaporated into saturated steam by the waste heat in the fiue gases passing through the boiler. The saturated steam travels through the superheating tubes 21 and 36 in the tubular casing 28, and finally to the nozzle 43 (Fig. 1). From the nozzle 43, the steam passes into the gas generating chamber |I. When the furnace around the tubular casing 23 reaches a temperature above 1900 F., a thermocouple |20 inserted in the furnace i1 actuates the control pyrometer I|I and turns on an electric current which opens the normally closed solenoid conto a level 88, best shown .in Figure 8. The high velocity of the steam passing through the nozzle 43 causes a vacuum in the oil passage 84 (Fig. 5), and causes the oil to rise from the low oil level 08 to a high oil level Ill. shown in Figure the gas` scrubber through the internal pipe |02 which terminates below the water seal |0I. The gases pass upwards from the water seal 0|, through the cleaning medium |04 and leave the scrubber through the outlet pipe I 09, through the valve I I9, the gas pump 1, the bellows II9 andy into the storage tank II4'.

It is to be noted that the control pyrometer I I I not only causes the solenoid controlled oil valve 14 to open but at the same time turns on the electric current which closes the passage in the solenoid operated purging 3-way vent valve H9, which is normally open, venting the plant throughs pipe |2| to the atmosphere. Closing the passage through the-valve |I0 leading to the vent pipe |2I, opens a passage through the valve, leading through a pipe |22 to a gas pump |I1, thus admitting gas to the pump. The pyrometer also at thesame time starts the operation of the pump ||1 which takes the gas from the scrubber |09 and delivers same under pressure through the bellows ||9 to the gas storage tank ||4. 'I'he pressure switch |I0 is arranged in circuit with a source of current supply through the cable IIB.

While the gas plant is operating the control pyrometer III also controls the temperature in the furnace and around each unit and maintains the temperature as close as possible to a predetermined mean temperature. This is accomplished by means of a solenoid controlled valve |23 which is normally'wide open. As the temperature rises to the maximum limit, the control pyrometer turns on an electric current which partly closes the valve |23 to permit only a predetermined minimum supply of gas to pass to the gas burner 20. thereby lowering the temperature in the furnace and in each unit.

When the temperature drops to the minimum limit, the pyrometer turns oi the electric current which opens the valve |23 to permit a predetermined maximum supply of gas topass to the gas burner 20. thereby raising the temperature in the furnace and in each unit and controlling the temperature variations within close limits.`

When the pressure in the gas storage tank I|4 reaches a predetermined high pressure, the pressure switch ||0 turns oi'f theelectric current from the main supply I I9 and the electrically operated valves and pyrometer return to their non-operating positions and the generating of oii gas is finished. Then the furnace and each gas making unit and the superheating tubes which were at a temperature above 1900 F. begin to cool off. While the temperature is dropping, the boiler is still generating saturated steaml whichtravels through the respective superheatring tubes'21and 33 and finally to the nozzle 65.

43 (Figure l). From the nozzle 43, the steam passes into the generating chamber Il, then up through the annular space |01 (Figure 44), then through the elbow |3 (Figure 8)', through the valve 93 and pipe 99 and enters the scrubber |00 through the pipe |02, and into the water seal |0I, where the steam is condensed after having v ejected the gas from the entire oil gas generating plant and thereby purging said plant. v It is also to be noted that each oil gas generating unit I0 or any number of the units I0,

' tubular members are also prepurged of entrained air in a like manner before the generating of oil gas begins and while the temperature in the superheating tubes rises to a point above 1900" F., and until gas making starts.

As shown in Figure 12, there has been provided a modified arrangement for superheating the steam. 'I'he numeral |30 indicates a steam superheating unit comprising a tubular member |3I closed at its lower end |32 and in threaded engagement with' a union |33. The tubular member |3| passes through an aperture in the furnace cover I6 and depends from the cover by the union |33 whichrests thereon and extends into the furnace |1. A T-shaped member |34 has been threaded into the union |33 and has a packing box |33 through the center of.

I 31 passes downward between the outside of the tube |39 and the inside of the tubular member |3I and enters the tube |39 at its lower end and travels upwards and leaves the superheating unit through an elbow |39. The steam in its passage, through the superheating unit |30 absorbs heat through the heat exchanging walls of the tubular member I3| in the furnace I1, and becomes Superheated. f

The numeral |39 indicates a unit which is similar in structure to the superheating unit |30. The unit |39 is suspended from the furnace cover I9 and extends into the furnace I1. The elbow |33 of the superheating unit |30 is `corinected to an elbow |40 on top of the internal tube |4|. Superheated steam entering the tube I4I passes downward to the bottom of the tubular member |42 which has a closed lower end |43. 'I'he steam passes upward between the outside wall of the internal tube |4| and the inside wall of the tubular member |42, and leaves the unit |39 through a pipe |44. The superheated steam in its passage throughl the unit |39 absorbs additionalheat through the heat exchanging walls of the tubular member |42 in the furnace |1 and becomes highly Superheated. The highly Superheated steam from the pipe y|44 enters the cover member |43 on the oil gas generating unit |40.

It will thus be seen that in the oil gas generating unit |49, highly Superheated steam enters` into the manifold |43 and thenv directly into the passage 40 of the injector 46. From the passage '40 the steam passes through thekaperture 41,

member I 43 in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 7.

It will thus be seen vthat in the modified oil gas generating unit |49, the superheating of the steam takes place in the separate units |30fand |39 and without the use of the internal U-shaped 21 and 39, shown in Figures V1 and 4.

As shown in Figure 12, the pipe 29 from a steam boiler `enters the cover member |43 and connects through a passage. |41 with a vertical pipe |43 and with a hollow annular member |49 l having a series of spray apertures |50. The

member I 49 is suitably suspended within the tubular casing 23 near its upper. end and surrounds the gas generating chamber |I. Steam from-a boiler may thus pass into the spray member |49 and form a steam curtain contacting with the hot metallic outer surface of the chamber Il and with the hot inner surface of the casing 23 and with the inner surface of the T-piece I3, and prevent the deposit of carbon on the hot metallic surfaces.

I claim:

1. The process of manufacturing oil gas, which consists in rst superheating steam separately and while out of contact with hydrocarbon to a temperature at which substantially all of it will react when brought into the presence of hydrocarbon, in continuously conducting said superheated steam directly into a reaction zone, in heating said reaction zone to cause its interior to be at the temperature of said superheated steam, in causing said superheated steam to continuously inject at high velocity a' relatively proportioned quantity of unvaporized hydrocarbon oil in an unobstructed path after leaving the injection nozzle into said reaction zone, said oil flowing only concurrently with the flow of said superheated steam, in continuously regulating the temperature within said reaction zone and maintaining said temperature above 1900 F., said oil gas making reaction taking place substantially completely only while said temperature of said steam and of said reaction zone is maintained above 1900 F.

2. 'Ihe process of manufacturing oil gas, which consists in first superheating steam separately and while out of contact with hydrocarbon to a temperature at which substantially all of it will react when brought into the presence of hydrocarbon, in continuously conducting said superheated steam directly into a reaction zone, in heating said reaction zone to the temperature of said superheated steam, in causing said superheated steam to continuously transfer a relatively proportioned quantity of unvaporized hydrocarbon oil directly into said reaction zone and the oil flowing only when concurrent with the iioW of said superheated steam, in controlling the temperature within said reaction zone above 1900 F. and causing said oil gas making reaction only while said temperature is maintained.

WALTER B. HARRIS. 

